The palm leaves adorning this particular udo’ mask gives a striking imagery to onlookers. To the Orang Ulu, it is known as udo’ urung tinggang as the nose is shaped similar to a hornbill’s beak. The eyes are inserted with circular mirrors to make the gaze of the mask more intense. Sometimes, the eyes are carved as vertical crescents to relate to the phases of the moon. A ritual is performed at midnight with this mask to frighten malevolent spirits, attract benevolent spirits, and reunite rice spirits. It catches wandering rice spirits to prevent the physical plant itself from ‘dying’ when the spirit strays too far.

History of the Object

Masks have significant cultural value to the people of Borneo. The Orang Ulu believes that the udo’ masks bring sacred rice seeds from Apau Lagaan, the land in which the Kayan deities reside.